Recent Progress in the Development of Hyper-Cross-Linked Polymers for Adsorption of Gaseous Volatile Organic Compounds

To date, numerous strategies have been developed to remove hazardous gaseous components like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the airstream. Adsorption technology has been used as an effective approach for the abatement of VOCs for over 30 years. Hyper-cross-linked polymers (HCPs) with permanent porosity, adjustable surface functional groups, and desired physical/chemical properties are recognized to have great potential for the adsorption of VOCs. In this review, the recent research advances achieved in the development of HCPs as adsorbents for the removal of VOCs are discussed with an emphasis on the following aspects: (1) properties of HCPs governing their adsorption performances, (2) removal mechanism of VOCs by HCPs, (3) advantages and shortcomings of HCPs for VOC adsorption, and (4) performance evaluation among HPCs (relative to other adsorption systems). Furthermore, the review was conducted to establish the “property-application” relationships to promote and encourage future research on the formulation of innovative HCP-based adsorptive materials for VOC removal.